The Brighton Comedy Festival bursts into life this month as the best of the international stand-up circuit make their way down south for a fortnight of fun.
The second largest comedy festival in the UK attracts over 30,000 people every autumn and, now in its 13th year, is set to take over the Brighton’s biggest comedy venues.
Daniel White sat down with some just some of the great talent that will be delighting audiences this October to find out what’s in store.
Doc Brown
Are you excited for the Brighton Comedy Festival?
It’s just a great place to perform: Open minded people who think outside the box – that’s what I tend to thrive off so yeah, always excited for Brighton.
What is your show about?
It’s just the ramblings of an old hippy really. Peace, love and the ever-antagonistic challenge of these values by p***ks.
What’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened to you at a gig?
Probably reaching into my pocket onstage and only realising as I pulled my hand out that I was clutching a pair of 5 year old girl’s knickers (my daughter’s by the way).
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Just enjoy it.
Dave Gorman
Are you excited for the Brighton Comedy Festival?
I am yes. Brighton is a rare place in Britain because most people think where they’re from is s**t and everywhere else is better but Brighton is rare because it has a good view of itself. Also, the difference with the festival compared to the rest of the tour is that there’s an atmosphere that is buzzier and nicer to be a part of.
What is your show about?
Basically I talk about some stuff that sounds like it won’t be funny but is.
What’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened to you at a gig?
The compare introduced me by saying ‘the first act, I’ve never heard of him, he might be s**t, please welcome Dave Gorman’ and I walked on stage to a full house chanting ‘f**k off, f**k off, f**k off’. I was 19 and at one point I was getting heckled by the bar staff. I refused to retreat and I died completely; there’s no redeeming feature to this story.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Turn up on time and carry a pencil.
Chris Ramsey
Are you excited for the Brighton Comedy Festival?
I love comedy festivals. Most cities can pull one off quite well. But Brighton is an awesome place and the comedy festival is always awesome here. I can’t wait!
What is your show about?
This show is an in depth analysis of the time I got kicked off Soccer AM and my other failures in life.
What’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened to you at a gig?
A woman in Norwich once chatted the whole way through a gig, offered sweets to everyone around her and then left before the end… She left a jar of marmite on her seat. I still think that may have been her review of me.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
‘Stand clear of the closing doors’- saved my life.
Jason Cook
Are you excited for the Brighton Comedy Festival?
Oh yes, I’ve always had great fun there, Brighton has SUCH a cool crowd when it comes to comedy.
What is your show about?
It’s about how I am broken and how all the things I have in my life, while positive, have taken their toll on me and broken me. But it’s not a sad show in any way. There are tons and tons of jokes.
What’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened to you at a gig?
I like to think of the show as a conversation with the audience, not a bullying one though, I’m not that kind of comedian, so something different happens in every show that always amazes me.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
If you’re driving anywhere on a Friday, leave an hour and a half early.
Vikki Stone
Are you excited for the Brighton Comedy Festival?
I’m MEGA excited for the Brighton Comedy Festival. Don’t tell the rest of the UK, but Brighton was my favourite tour date last year. I love the crowds in Brighton – I’ve always been lucky to have a really electric audience every time I’ve played here!
What is your show about?
My show is about music and my family, and growing up, and in addition I play 20 musical instruments as an underscore to go with it!
What’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened to you at a gig?
There have been so many. Audiences can be very weird things. I’ve had marriage proposals, obscenities shouted, a man standing on a table and taking all his clothes of whilst I sang a song, a man banging on the wall behind me, and a one woman standing ovation from Sue Pollard.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
My old dad always use to say to me ‘Always go everywhere twice. Second time to apologise’.
Jimeoin
Are you excited for the Brighton Comedy Festival?
Yeh I like Brighton. Brighton’s always a good night out; it’s often too good of a night out. I just have a lot of vague memories of Brighton.
What is your show about?
Jokes really. It’s just got as many jokes as I can put into it as possible and as stupid as possible. I just keep it as fun and as irrelevant as I can think of but I don’t really have any point to make, I just tell jokes.
What’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened to you at a gig?
There’s too many too mention really but I got into a fight once on stage in Western Australia, as you do.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Don’t take advice.
The Brighton Comedy Festival runs from October 10th – 25th and for tickets or more information visit www.brightoncomedyfestival.com
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